David Hanson Keynote Speaker

David Hanson, a visionary robotics developer renowned for creating some of the world’s most human-like robots. His lifelong quest to develop true living, caring machines has positioned him at the forefront of integrating figurative arts, cognitive science, and robotics engineering. As the founder and CEO of Hanson Robotics, his innovative work includes developing novel skin materials, advanced facial expression mechanisms, and collaborative AI technologies, all of which are embodied in his humanoid artworks, such as the iconic Sophia the robot.

He holds a Ph.D. in Interactive Arts and Technology from the University of Texas at Dallas and a BFA in Film Animation Video from the Rhode Island School of Design. His educational background reflects his unique ability to blend artistic creativity with technological innovation.

Hanson’s career began with his work as a Walt Disney Imagineer, where he served as both a sculptor and a technical consultant in robotics. This unique combination of artistic and technical expertise laid the foundation for his future endeavors. He later founded Hanson Robotics, a company dedicated to creating robots with human-like appearances and capabilities. David creates humanlike robots with intelligence, feelings, and expressions, yielding many of the most startling robots in recent years including the robot Sophia, the walking Albert Hubo, and the android portrait of Philip K Dick. These Hanson robots operate by using AI and express themselves with a full range of natural facial expressions.

As a prolific researcher, David has published numerous papers in prestigious journals covering materials science, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and robotics. His work has been featured in respected publications such as SPIE, IEEE, the International Journal of Cognitive Science, IROS, AAAI, and AI Magazine. He is also the author of two influential books, including “Humanizing Robots, published in 2017” and holds several patents for his groundbreaking innovations.

Hanson’s contributions to the field have garnered widespread recognition. His work has been featured in major media outlets, including The New York Times, Popular Science, Scientific American, WIRED, BBC, and CNN. He has received numerous awards, including honors from NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the Tech Titans’ Innovator of the Year award. Additionally, he was co-recipient of the 2005 AAAI first-place prize for open interaction of an AI system.

David Hanson is a pioneering robotics developer known for creating human-like robots that integrate art and technology. His innovations in AI and materials science have positioned him as a leader in the field, with significant contributions to research and practical applications.